ELECTION PROFILE: Dwain Morrison: Mayor

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Although frequently the odd vote out in the City Council, Dwain Morrison has striven to be the voice of the people with his strong rhetoric and passion.

“You’re supposed to listen twice as much as you talk. You need to listen to what people said and act wisely,” he said. “If you’ll listen, people usually tell you what’s on their mind.”

The 62-year-old San Angelo native, who still lives only a couple of miles from his birthplace, has represented the residents of Single Member District 2 for the past 10 years and now hopes to represent the rest of San Angelo.

“It really has been quite an honor,” Morrison said. “(Residents) have been very supportive of me. In turn I’ve tried to be loyal and supportive of them.”

As an elected official, he said, his job is to be a voice for those who elected him.

“I speak for those who cannot and will not speak for themselves,” he said.

Having been elected and re-elected five times, Morrison has evident support from a large portion of his district’s residents. One who strongly advocates open government and prioritizing taxpayers’ interests, Morrison is known for his commitment.

“Dwain is an honest person. He doesn’t tell you he’ll do something and throw it to the side,” said Lloyd Cones, who has been friends with Morrison since they worked together in the ’70s. “He’s an honest and straightforward person. The city needs an honest and straightforward person.”

A working man who made a life owning a fencing business for 25 years after he got out of the National Guard, Morrison understands the challenges the average working-class person faces.

After a stint at Roebuck and Co., a subsidiary of Sears, Morrison supported three children and his wife while she attended school. Having retired several years ago, Morrison now enjoys a simple life restoring old cars and spending time with his grandchildren.

During council meetings, Morrison has vehemently voiced his concerns that when the city charges user fees to local businesses, the business will simply offset the cost by charging the customer more, so the taxpayer still will lose out.

“I relate to families in San Angelo that are struggling,” Morrison said. “I will have compassion for them. I will represent the working people.”

For that reason, Cones said, Morrison will be able to represent the average working person and the majority of San Angeloans.

“Because he’s been a common person, he knows what money means. It wasn’t given to him on a platter,” Cones said. “He knows what people do to make ends meet, so he’s going to approach (taxpayer money) carefully and spend it wisely.”

An upholder of transparency in city government, Morrison has repeatedly called for an external investigation of the city’s Water Utilities department, which has been embroiled in controversy since odd financial and water billing activity surfaced late last year, resulting in a shift in the department’s leadership.

“I want honesty, transparency and open government,” he said.

Like former Mayor J.W. Lown, Morrison would like to be the public face of the city. While the mayor and council oversee the activity of staff and hold them accountable, Morrison said they should not micromanage.

“We hire a city manager who is knowledgeable, qualified and capable,” he said. “It is the city manager’s job to run the city, not the mayor’s. A mayor needs to be the PR man for the city.”

Leaving the nuts and bolts to city staff, Morrison said the mayor should be the one to say hello to incoming businesses and residents.

However, Morrison clearly is not one to sit back and just let things happen. As evident in his strong stances during council meetings, Morrison is ready to fight for the interests of those who elect him.

“I was taught if you don’t like something you either change it or shake the dust off your feet,” he said. “I’m going to change or I’m going to get out.”